Need a Substitution for Familiar

[kevin_video]

So I'm about to take Wizard for the first time, in a LONG time, and the players know our DM well. Too well. The #1 thing you get rid of as soon as you get it is animal companion, mount, or familiar. Why? Because we all know the rule that you take that down first, and leave the spellcaster alone until it's dead. Then, take out the weakened spellcaster who can't put up a defense anymore.

I've looked and looked, and the only thing I've been able to find is Dragon Magazine issue 348's Arcane Reabsorbtion: If a spell you cast is Countered –or– fails to overcome the target’s Spell Resistance, you may “reabsorb” the spell as an Immediate Action by making a Spellcraft check vs. DC 20 + [3 * spell level]. If successful, you retain the Spell Slot, but take (spell level) nonlethal damage (which bypasses your Damage Reduction /
resistances). Note: to use this ability, the spell must have had no effect whatsoever.

Sounds alright, but it's not exactly what I'm looking for as a first level caster. Even a 1st lvl spell is DC 23 to get back. Unless you've got INT 30 for +10, and max out that spellcraft skill, chances are you're not going to get DC 38 for a 9th level spell.

And no, I'd rather not go specialized Wizard.

 

[Voadam]

I think there were some options in either complete mage, complete champion, or PHII. I know I used one for my gestalt sorcerer/paladin but it was sorcerer specific knocking down the increased caster time for metamagic. Unearthed Arcana has a lot for specialist mages but nothing for the straight mage. I personally think the domain spellcaster option from UA would be an appropriate swap out but it is not an official option.

 

[irdeggman]

Nothing says you have to take the familiar. Wait a few levels and then the wizard has enough HP to survive if his familiar dies.

In fact a 1st level wizard can't afford it - it is not "free", you still have to pay the cost. This is something our group missed for a long, long time - a wizard or sorcerer doesn't automatically start with a familiar, they automatically start with the ability to summon one but it still takes 24 hours and costs 100 gp.

Familiar: A sorcerer can obtain a familiar (see below). Doing so takes 24 hours and uses up magical materials that cost 100 gp. A familiar is a magical beast that resembles a small animal and is unusually tough and intelligent. The creature serves as a companion and servant.

A wizard's starting money is - 3d4 x 10 (avg of 75 gp), max of 120 gp.

And the wizard still needs to buy his starting equipment with that money (spell component pouch is 5 gp) add in a backpack, some rope, some tindertwigs, etc. pretty soon you've used up all of your funds. A single tanglefoot bag costs 50 gp.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Check crystalkeep's database for base classes: http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Classes-Base.pdf

Even if you have the dragon mags the variants came from, it can help to tell you in which one to find them. On page 126, it has Focus Caster. Even though you pick a school for your focus, it does NOT require that you be a specialist. You gain benefits at Wizard 1, 7, and 15. It's best if you plan on actually staying in Wizard (instead of a prestige class). Focus Caster according to crystalkeep is in issue 348 p. 88.

Oh, as for your reasons for not wanting a familiar...that makes sense. But there's no penalty for losing an animal companion, and it's easy to get a new one, so the druids and rangers in the group shouldn't be so quick to opt-out.

 

[Dandu]

Wait a few levels before summoning a Familiar.

Take the Improved Familiar feat and snag yourself something hardier, like an Imp. Imps are fun.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

1) Unearthed Arcana (p59-64) has a variety of alternative rules for specialists- think of them as Alternate Class Features though WotC didn't use that name at that time. Among the list of ACFs, each type of specialist has one that subs for having a Familiar.

2) Dragon mag, as I recall, has "Class Features" that has "Staff Familiars."

 

[Thanael]

This thread on WotC forums used to be an excellent listing of alternate class features, listed by class and race. Of course now that the sblock tags don't work anymore it looks kind of ugly.

Crystal Keep - D&D and d20 System is another great resource. Check the base classes and Creatures pdfs for familiar options.

Anyways, of the top of my head, there's the UA Specialist Variants and the Immediate Magic ACF from PHB2. Both are only for specialists though. (Check the WOtC thread for details).

There also
Wilderness Companion (UA, p 58): Trade familiar for animal companion.

 

[Herzog]

You didn't post race, so I don't know if this is appropriate, but Races of the Wild has Elf Racial Substitution levels for Generalist Wizard.

You get bonusses (like when specializing) without actually specializing....
Might be an option (if you are an elf, that is)

You still get the familiar, though.

Depending on the allowed books:

Take Improved Familiar, to gain access to Homonculus, then take one of the Homonuli from the Eberron books.

 

[aboyd]

Yeah, Thanael has the right idea. The PHB 2 has an alternative wizard that foregoes the familiar, and in exchange the wizard gets free 10' teleports. Not bad.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

He said in the OP that he doesn't want to be a specialist wizard, so all the UA and PH2 suggestions aren't really any help.